v11n0203

done so in the future, claiming there was no immediate need
because there was already ample evidence in the victims’ favour.
Story 27: Police illegally arrest, torture three activists
Victims:
1. Archie Bathan, 22, a student leader for the Youth for National
Democracy and presently secretary general of the Nuclear-
Free Bataan Movement
2. Raffy Limcumpao, 49, a peasant activist
3. Domingo Alcantara, late 40s, a community organizer and
husband of Kathy Alcantara, an activist killed in December
2005
They are all presently detained at the Bataan Provincial Jail,
Bataan.
Alleged perpetrators: Elements of the PNP’s 303rd Provincial
Mobile Group (PMG) of the PNP; the 72nd Military Intelligence
Company and 3rd IB of the 703rd Brigade of the PA
Date and time of their arrest: 27 May 2009 at 5pm
Place of the incident: House of Patricio Esconde, a barangay
tanod (village watchman) in Barangay Ibaba, Bubuyog Street,
Samal Bataan
AHRC-UAC-056-2009
Rafael Limcumpao, Domingo Alcantara and Archie Bathan
were having a meeting in their community when a group of
about 20 policemen and soldiers, armed with automatic rifles
and handguns, arrested them. Prior to this incident Limcumpao,
Alcantara and Bathan were planning to organize campaigns to
mobilize protest against the plan of renewing the operation of the
nuclear power plant, the Bataan nuclear Power Plant. The group is
opposed to the operation, as it would have serious environmental
and health implications to local residents.
When arrested, the arresting officer shouted at them and
ordered them to lie down facing the floor. Bathan, caught by
surprise, immediately ran outside towards the rice fields, but he
was arrested by an officer who chased him after firing a warning
shot. Limcumpao, Alcantara and Bathan were kicked and hit with
rifles while they were handcuffed and their bodies were searched.
They were separately taken to two vehicles. The arresting officers,
however, neither presented to them arrest orders nor explained
to them the nature of charges against them.
In open view of onlookers, the three victims were blindfolded
using their own clothing and dragged outside. One of the vehicles
had markings of the 303rd Pmg, indicating that those arresting
them were police officers. There was also a police mobile and a
pick-up. The three were dragged by force into the police vehicles.
Bathan and Limcumpao were taken together inside a police
vehicle while Alcantara was taken separately to a pick-up. The
article 2 � June-Sept 2012 Vol. 11, No. 2-3
“
The stealing
of the remains
happened while
the CHR was
investigating the
killing.
”
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